Washing machine agitator



May 7, 1968 T. R. SMITH 3,381,505

WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR Filed Feb. 25, 1966 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 7, 1968 T. R. SMITH WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 25, 1966 n! a I If! f I f I! N Hy m w 0 3 O o 0 o o O O O O O O 4 3 3 a 4 6 z r s I w m 8 M /t/- M \0 5 5895 66 MW 24 Z 444 fi 11% 5 a m 7 i 9 .1 z 0 4 flux awn? 777 0414: 0. 5mm; 52%

United States Patent 3,381,505 WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR Thomas R. mith, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 530,075 17 Claims. (Cl. 68-18) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An agitator for a washing machine comprising a unitary shell structure including an upstanding hollow center post, a flaring lower portion, and a plurality of flexible vanes. The agitator defines an internal fluid passageway from an upper ingress to a lower egress and is operable Without auxiliary pumping means for effecting a secondary fluid flow through the internal passageway.

This invention relates to an agitator for a washing machine and specifically to an agitator oscillatable in a body of washing fluid for effecting a fabric washing action and effecting flow of a portion of the fluid through fluid treatment means positioned within the agitator.

Prior art has shown agitators oscillatably operable in a washing machine for achieving a washing action and having a construction adapted for accommodating a circulation of fluids through the agitator so that a portion of the washing fluid flows through fluid treatment means, such as a filter for example. This type of agitator is embodied in my U.S. Patent 2,976,711, entitled Washing Agitator With Fluid Pumping Means, Filter, and Dispenser, issued Mar. 28, 1961 and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. These agitators include, however, auxiliary pumping means to efi'ect the pumping of fluids through the fluid treatment means positioned within the agitator.

It is an object of this invention to eliminate the auxiliary pumping means and thereby provide an improved agitator oscillatable in a body of washing fluid for effecting a continuous secondary flow of a portion of the washing fluid through fluid treatment means positioned within the agitator.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an agitator adapted for utilizing the oscillatory movement of the agitator itself to produce a primary fluid flow for effecting a cleansing of the fabrics and effecting a secondary fluid flow through a filter or fluid treatment means con tained within the agitator.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an agitator having agitating vanes attached to a hollow shell member for effecting a primary fluid flow for cleansing the fabrics and for effecting a secondary fluid flow through said hollow shell for achieving a continuous filtering of a portion of the fluid as it flows through fluid treatment means contained within the hollow shell memher.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an agitator including a hollow shell member having a cavity for receiving fluid treatment means and further including a fluid intake for accommodating a secondary fluid flow into said cavity and fluid passageways for directing the fluid through the agitator and then into a converging relationship with a unidirectional primary fluid flow responsive to oscillation of the agitator.

The present invention achieves these objects with an agitator construction including a plurality of agitating vanes spaced about a hollow shell member and extending substantially radially therefrom. The agitator includes a plurality of intake openings for allowing fluid flow into said cavity and further includes passageways for directing the fluid downwardly and outwardly from the agitator 3,381,505 Patented May 7, 1968 into a converging flow pattern with the main body of fluid being circulated within the fluid container. The oscillatable agitator with the plurality of vanes effects a primary unidirectional fluid flow downwardly adjacent an upstanding upper portion of the agitator and then outwardly from a lower portion. This primary fluid flow is accompanied by a secondary fluid flow through the cavity and through the fluid treatment means positioned therein and then downwardly into a converging relationship with the primary fluid flow. It is to be noted that the secondary fluid flow is achieved through fluid currents effected by the oscillation of the agitator and does not rely on and does not require auxiliary pumping means.

Further details of construction and operation of the device and further objects and advantages thereof will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawings which i1- lustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a portion of a washing machine shown partially in vertical section and including the agitator of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the agitator, with the upstanding upper portion in section as taken along lines 2-2 of .FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section view of the agitator as taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and shows the fluid path through the agitator; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing an alternate construction for the agitator.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 shows a perforate washing basket 10 nested within a substantially imperforate fluid container 11. An upstanding agitator 13 is centrally positioned within the fabric basket 10. In this preferred embodiment, the fluid container 11 is non-rotatively mounted in a suitable enclosure. The fabric basket 10, however, is mounted for rotation relative to the fluid container 11 for effecting removal of fluid from the fabric basket 10 and from the fabrics contained therein through centrifugal extraction.

The mounting system for the fabric basket is best shown in FIGURE 3. The fabric basket 10 includes a bottom wall portion 14 having an upward taper toward a central dome portion 15 adjacent the axis of rotation. This dome portion 15 includes a central opening (not shown) for receiving a mounting stem 16 having a lower flange portion for engaging the undersurface of the dome portion 15 and supporting the basket 10 in an upright position. A clamping ring 18 engages the upper surface of the central dome portion 15 and a clamping nut 19 is threadably connected to an upper portion 20 of the mounting stem 16 for clamping the dome portion 15 of the fabric basket 10 between the mounting "stem flange and the clamping ring 18 to retain the fabric basket 10 for rotation with the mounting stem 16. For a detailed explanation of the container and 'basket arrangement, 'and mounting system therefor, reference is made to U.S. Patent 2,926,136, entitled Tub Mounting Assembly, issued Feb. 23, 1960 to T. R. Smith et al., and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

An oscillatable center agitating shaft 21 extends upwardly from the mounting stem 16 and is rotatable thereto. The agitator 13 is mounted on a splined portion 23 of the center agitating shaft 21 for oscillation therewith during the washing and rinsing cycles as: will be explained more fully hereinafter.

A system for selectively oscillating the agitator 13 and spinning the fabric basket 10 includes the center agitating shaft 21 and a concentric outer drive tube 24. The center shaft 21 is connected to the agitator 13 through the splined portion 23 as indicated and effects oscillation of the agitator 13 through a suitable gear transmission (not shown). The drive tube 24 is drivingly connected to the mounting stem 16 so that the basket is rotated with the drive tube 24. For a more complete and detailed explanation of the drive system, reference is made to United States Patent 2,948,372, entitled, Drive Assembly, issued Aug. 9, 1960, to J. D. Goodlaxson and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

The integrally formed agitator 13 comprises a hollow shell member 26 including an upstanding upper portion 28 and a flaring lower portion 29. Disposed about the shell member 26 and extending generally radially therefrom are a plurality of agitating vanes or blades 30.

As previously indicated, the agitating vanes 36 are formed integrally with the hollow shell member 26 during the molding thereof. As best seen in FIGURE 2, these agitating vanes 30, of which there are four in this embodiment, extend generally radially outwardly from the hollow shell member 26. It is understood, however, that addition- :11 or fewer vanes may be positioned about the shell member. Each of these agitating vanes 39 is attached to the shell member at an innermost juncture portion 31 and terminate at an outer tip portion 33 aligned generally with the extremity of the flaring lower portion. The contour of the agitating vanes in a vertical plane follows generally the shape of the lower flaring portion 29 through the lower edge 34 of the vane 30 is detached and spaced from the lower portion 29. The agitating vanes 30 sweep inwardly and upwardly from the outermost tip portion 33 to join with the shell member 26 and then continue as a small ridge 35 upwardly along the upstanding upper portion 28. As indicated in FIGURE 1, the agitating vanes 30 are constructed to include an outer bead 36 and an inner web 38.

In this preferred embodiment, the agitator 13 is molded of a polypropylene material which possesses as one of its characteristics the ability to be repeatedly flexed without failure. This flexibility characteristic and the physical construction of the agitating vanes 30 provide an agitator having vanes which are free to flex from their normal unloaded position. This flexure provides an extra outwardly directed force acting on the fluid which is additive to the centrifugal force of the fluid imparted by the rotation of the agitator 13. This additional force or the combination of forces results in improved fluid flow and fabric movement.

As previously indicated, the hollow shell member 26 includes a flaring lower portion 29 formed integrally with the upstanding upper portion 28. The lower portion 29 is imperforate and is formed to have a contour corresponding substantially to and spaced upwardly tom the upwardly tapering wall 14 of the fabric basket.

The upper portion 28 includes a substantially cylindrical section having a centrally disposed opening 39 at its upper end for receiving fluid treatment means and defines intake openings 40 for admitting washing fluid into the fluid treatment means.

The agitator 13 is provided with internal webs 41 converging toward the longitudinal axis of the shell member 26 to join an inverted cup-shaped driving hub 43. The webs 41 and driving hub 43 form a partition to defiine an upper cavity 44 and a lower cavity 45 within the shell member 26 and cooperate with the shell member 26 to define internal fluid conduits 46 communicating with the upper cavity 44. The driving hub 43 is adapted to receive and drivingly engage the splined portion 23 of the agitating shaft 21 for interconnecting the agitator 13 and the agitating shaft 21.

A wall member 48 extends between the driving hub 43 and the shell member 26 to define at least one fluid passageway or fluid chute 49 communicating with the upper cavity 44 at one end and communicating with the main body of washing fluid at the other end. The wall member 48 includes a substantially horizontal portion 50 cooperating with the shell member 26 to define an ingress 51 into the passageway 49 and also includes a portion 53 extending downwardly and outwardly from the hub 43 and joining with the shell member 26 to define the fluid passageway 49 and terminating at an egress 54. The egress 54 is an opening through, and is defined by, the shell member 26. In this embodiment, the egress 54 from the fluid passageway 49 is located at a position radially inwardly from the outer edge 33 of the agitating vanes and above the lower edge 34 of the agitating vanes 30.

As previously indicated, the oscillatory action of the agitator 13 imparts a centrifugal force to the washing fluid in the area of the agitating vanes 13. This centrifugal action produces a pumping effect within the fluid so that a downwardly flow of fluid both along the outside of the shell member 26 and through the upper cavity 44 within the shell member is produced. The centrifugal action of the fluid produces, therefore, a primary fluid flow as previously discussed and also a secondary fluid flow through the cavity 44, through the conduits 46 and through the passageways 49 into a converging relationship with the primary fluid flow.

The horizontal portion 5% and the downwardly extending portion 53, in addition to defining the passageway 49, also forms an imperforate housing for enclosing the lower cavity 45 to effectively define an air bell in the area of the drive hub 43. The air bell is effective in this low centerpost agitator in preventing washing fluid from contacting a sealing member (not shown) in portion 20 of mounting stem 16. The air bell traps a pocket of air withing the enclosed lower cavity 45 and thus prevents fluid from rising above a level indicated generally by the dotted line 55.

It should be noted that the agitator as shown and here inabove described contains or includes a plurality of agitating vanes 30 disposed about the outer surface of the hollow shell member 26 but does not include other auxiliary pumping means.

A lint filter or other fluid treatment devices, such as a bleach dispenser, may be located within the confines of the upper cavity 44 and adjacent the intake openings 40 defined by the hollow shell member 26. The lint filter 60 shown in the preferred embodiment includes a cap member 61 rigidly connected to a perforate cylindrical filter element 63 and a lip seal 64 encompassing the lower end of the lint filter element and abutting the lower flared extension of the lint filter element 63. The seal 64 between the filter element 63 and the inside surface of the shell member 26 prevents lint and other particles from short-circuiting the filter 60. The entire lint filter assembly 60 formed by the cap 61, the lint filter screen 63, and the seal 64 may be manually removed from the top of the agitator for cleaning.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, an alternate agitator construction is shown in vertical section similar to that of FIGURE 3. It is seen from FIGURE 4 that the agitator construction shown therein is similar to that of the preferred embodiment of FIGURE 3. This alternate construction includes a hollow shell member having an upper portion 71 and a lower portion 73. The upper portion 71 is substantially cylindrical and defines openings 40 into a cavity 44 adapted to receive fluid treatment means. A plurality of agitating vanes 76 are disposed about the shell member 70 and extend outwardly therefrom in a manner similar to that of the preferred embodiment. An inverted cup-shaped driving hub 78 extends upwardly into the shell member 70 and is joined with the inner surface of the shell member by radiating webs 79 connected between the shell member 70 and the driving hub 78. The hub and web construction forms a partition between upper and lower cavities 44, 80 and defines fluid conduits 81 extending downwardly from the upper cavity 44.

This embodiment also includes a wall member 83 extending outwardly from the driving hub 78 and cooperative with the shell member 70 for defining an ingress 84 into an annular fluid passageway 85 leading downwardly and outwardly from the agitator. In this embodiment, however, the annular fluid passageway 85 is defined by the lower portion 73 of the shell member and bounded on the inside by the fabric basket wall member 14 and clamping ring 18 associated therewith. This fluid passageway 85 takes the form of an annular space having an engress 86 into the main body of washing fluid at the lower edge '88 of the shell member. The egress 86 defined by the lower edge 88 of the shell member is positioned radially inwardlyfrom the outer edge 89 of the agitating vanes and above the lowest point 90 of the agitating vanes 76- so that the centrifugal forces acting on the water or washing fluid effects a secondary fluid flow through the agitator similar to that of prior embodiment.

Also shown in FIGURE 4 is a downwardly extending wall portion 91 in the area of the driving hub 78 which is operative for providing an air bell at the driving hub similar to that previously discussed to prevent rise of fluid above line 93.

In operation, the fluid container 11 is filled approximately to the level indicated by the dotted line 100 in FIGURES 1 and 3 for full tub operation or to some lower level within the elevational range of the intake openings 40 for less than full tub operation. The oscillation of the center shaft 21 by a conventional power unit (not shown) effects a fabric washing action within the fabric container 10. In this embodiment, the agitator 13 effects a centrifugal movement of the fluids and fabrics in the area of the agitating vanes. In addition, the flexible vanes 30 of these embodiments produce an outward thrust on the water when the vanes are in their deflected position as shown in dotted lines 103 in FIGURE 2. The combined effect of these forces effect a substantially unidirectional flow of fluids and fabrics within the washing container.

This unidirectional flow is downwardly adjacent the upper portion of the shell member, outwardly from the lower portion, upwardly along the outer regions of the fabric container, and then inwardly toward the upper portion of the shell member. With an agitator construction as hereinabove disclosed, this primary unidirectional fluid flow is accompanied by a secondary fluid flow through said agitator. The secondary fluid flow enters the hollow shell member through the intake openings as indicated by the arrow 104 in FIGURES 3 and 4. The fluid passes through the filter 60 positioned within the upper cavity 44 and continues through the internal fluid conduits 46 and exists from the agitator through the egress passageway, as shown by the arrow 105 in FIG- URE 3. The fluid exiting from the agitator is directed outwardly into a converging relationship with the primary fluid flow and continues to recirculate within the fabric basket 10.

The oscillator of agitator 13 also normally causes a separation of lint particles from the fabrics being washed within the fluid and causes these particles to circulate within the body of fluid and become deposited on other fabrics unless they are separated from the washing fluid. The unidirectional flow of water Within the washing machine as previously described causes washing fluid to enter the intake openings 40 and carry the particles of lint, thread or other foreign articles suspended within the washing fluid into the upper cavity 44.

These particles are filtered from the washing fluid by means of the lint filter assembly 60 which retains the filtered particles on its periphery while permitting the filtered fluid to pass downwardly through the agitator for further recirculation within the body of fluid. Upon termination of washing cycle, the lint filter 60 may be removed from the agitator for manual cleaning of the filter element.

In summary, it may be seen that the instant invention provides an agitator construction which is operable for providing an improved washing and fluid treatment action within a body of washing fluid. It is an agitator which eliminates the need for auxiliary pumping means. This improvement facilitates fabrication of an agitator with greater ease and reduced cost.

In the drawings and specifications, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An agitator having an upper fluid treatment chamber and oscillatable in a container for moving fabrics within a body of washing fluid and effecting fluid flow through said fluid treatment chamber, comprising: a unitary hollow shell member; at least one fluid intake in an upper portion of said shell member for accommodating fluid flow into said fluid treatment chamber; vanes on said shell member for agitating said fluid and producing a primary fluid flow downwardly adjacent the exterior of said shell member and producing a secondary fluid through said fluid intake and then downwardly within said fluid treatment chamber; a drive hub extending upwardly into said shell member; means for drivingly interconnecting said drive hub and said shell member and forming a partition between said upper fluid treatment chamber and a lower discharge passageway, said interconnecting means being adapted to include at least one fluid conduit to permit said secondary fluid flow to pass from said fluid treatment chamber into said discharge passageway; and an egress means disposed angularly between at least one pair of adjacent vanes and defined at least in part by said shell member at a position radially inward from the outer portion of said vanes and above the lower portion thereof for discharging said secondary fluid flow from said discharge passage way downwardly and outwardly adjacent the lower portion of said shell member into a converging relationship with said primary fluid flow, said drive hub being adapted to receive an agitator shaft for oscillating said agitator to effect said primary fluid flow and said secondary fluid flow.

2. An agitator as defined in claim 1 wherein said vanes are flexibly mounted on said shell member and are movable to a displaced position during oscillation of said agitator for imparting a centrifugal force and an additional radially directed component of force to said fluid to effect said primary and said secondary fluid flow.

3. An agitator as defined in claim 1 wherein a filtering device is disposed within said fluid treatment chamber and wherein said filtering device is positioned and adapted for passage of said secondary fluid flow therethrough.

4. An agitator as defined in claim 1 wherein a wall portion having an opening communicating with said fluid conduit is associated with said interconnecting means to adapt said fluid treatment chamber for receiving and dispensing fluid treatment material int-o said secondary fluid flow.

5. An agitator as defined in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means includes a plurality of webs connected between said drive hub and said shell member and defines a plurality of fluid conduits and wherein said interconnecting means further includes a wall portion defining openings associated with said fluid conduits.

6. An agitator as defined in claim 5 wherein said interconnecting means further includes an imperforate portion extending below and compassing said drive hub to form an air bell.

7. An agitator having an upper fluid treatment chamher and oscillatable in a container for moving fabrics within a body of washing fluid and effecting fluid flow through said fluid treatment chamber, comprising: a unitary hollow shell member including an upstanding upper portion and a depending lower portion; at least one fluid intake defined by said upper portion for accommodating fluid flow into said fluid treatment chamber; vanes on said shell member for agitating said fluid and producing a primary fluid flow downwardly adjacent the exterior of said upper portion and producing a secondary fluid flow through said fluid intake and then downwardly within said fluid treatment chamber; a drive hub extending upwardly into said shell member; structure means for drivingly interconnecting said drive hub and said shell member to form a partition below said upper fluid treatment chamber and for defining a lower discharge passageway, said structure means being adapted to define at least one fluid conduit to permit the secondary fluid flow to pass from said fluid treatment chamber to said discharge passageway; and an egress means defined by said shell member for discharging said secondary fluid flow from said discharge passageway through said shell member and then along the exterior surface of said lower portion into a converging relationship with said primary fluid flow, said drive hub being adapted to receive an agitator shaft for oscillating said agitator to effect said primary fluid flow and said secondary fluid flow.

8. An agitator as defined in claim 7 wherein said vanes are flexibly mounted on said shell member and are movable to a displaced position during oscillation of said agitator for imparting a centrifugal force and an additional radially directed component of force to said fluid to effect said primary and said secondary fluid flow.

9. An agitator as defined in claim '7 wherein a filtering device is disposed within said fluid treatment chamber and wherein said filtering device is positioned and adapted for passage of said secondary fluid flow therethrough.

10. An agitator as defined by claim 7 wherein said structure means includes a wall portion extending downwardly and outwardly from said drive hub to said egress in said shell member for defining said discharge passageway.

11. An agitator as defined by claim 7 wherein the depending lower portion adjacent said egress flares downwardly and outwardly from said upstanding upper portion for directing said primary fluid flow and said secondary fluid flow into said converging relationship along said lower portion and then generally outwardly from the bottom edge of said lower portion.

12. An agitator as defined by claim 7 wherein said depending lower portion flares downwardly and outwardly and then increasingly outwardly and wherein said egress is in the form of an opening in said depending lower portion and wherein further said structure means includes a wall portion extending downwardly and outwardly from said drive hub to converge with and join said flaring lower portion adjacent the lower edge of said egress opening to define said discharge passageway in the form of a fluid chute whereby saidprimary fluid flow and said secondary fluid flow converge along said flaring portion and then flow generally outwardly therefrom.

13. An agitator having an upper fluid treatment means and oscillatable in a container for moving fabrics within a body of washing fluid and eflecting fluid flow through said fluid treatment chamber, comprising: a unitary hollow shell member including an upstanding upper portion and a depending lower portion; at least one fluid intake defined by said upper portion for accommodating fluid flow into said upper fluid treatment chamber; vanes on said shell member for agitating said fluid and producing a primary fluid flow downwardly adjacent the exterior of said upper portion and producing a secondary fluid flow through said fluid intake and then downwardly within said fluid treatment chamber; a drive hub extending upwardly into said shell member; means for drivingly interconnecting said drive hub and said shell member and forming a partition between said upper fluid treatment chamber and a lower discharge passageway, said interconnecting means being adapted to include at least one fluid conduit to permit said secondary fluid flow to pass from said fluid treatment chamber to said discharge passageway, said depending lower portion terminating substantially inwardly from the outer edge of said vanes and forming an outer wall of said discharge passageway; and an egress means from said discharge passageway defined at least in part by said lower portion at a position radially inward from the outer portion of said vanes and above the lower portion thereof for directing said secondary fluid flow from said discharge passageway into a converging relationship with said primary fluid flow, said drive hub being adapted to receive an agitator shaft for oscillating said agitator to effect said primary fluid flow and said secondary fluid flow.

14. An agitator as defined in claim 13 wherein said vanes are flexibly mounted on said shell member and are movable to a displaced position during oscillation of said agitator for imparting a centrifugal force and an additional radially directed component of force to said fluid to effect said primary and said secondary fluid flow.

15. An agitator as defined in claim 13 wherein a filtering device is disposed within said fluid treatment chamber and wherein said filtering device is positioned and adapted for passage of said secondary fluid flow therethrough.

16. An agitator as defined in claim 13- wherein said lower portion is adapted to be spaced from the bottom wall of said container for defining an annular discharge passageway having an annular egress adjacent the bottom edge of said lower portion.

17. An agitator as defined in claim 16 wherein said lower portion flares downwardly and outwardly to define a downwardly and outwardly extending annular discharge pasageway for directing said secondary fluid flow into said converging relationship with said primary fluid flow along said bottom wall of said container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,916,900 12/ 1959 Gerhardt et al. 6818 2,976,711 3/1961 Smith 68-47 3,112,632 12/ 1963 Walton 68-54 3,287,940 11/1966 Gerhardt et a1. 68-48 3,330,135 7/1967 Douglas 68-18 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Examiner.

f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,381',5U5' May 7 1968 Thomas R. Smith It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: ll a J -K Column 2, line 48, "undersurface" should read under syrfac a column s, line 26 "thr'oufg'h" should read though {*lg'ne 61, ""dei'ifn'e" should read define Column 4, lines 29 ,g apd so", "w'it'hfii'Q" shmna read within Column 5, line 8,

"e'n'g'r'ess'"should read egress line 50, "exists" should rea:

exits' i line 56 "oscillator" should read oscillation I Column 6, line 7l,"'compassing should read encompassing Column- 8, "1""i'fie"'4'8, "pasageway" should read passageway Signed and sealed this 23rd day of September 1969.

Si n Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patent 

